Jim Haden to retire after 21 years

Jim Haden, president of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, will be retiring this fall after 21 years of service to Charlottesville’s community hospital.

Haden, who is 67, began working at Sentara Martha Jefferson in 1993. With Haden as president, Sentara Martha Jefferson has grown and greatly expanded, now offering a more enhanced complement of clinical services to the community, including neurosurgery and advanced cardiology and orthopedic services.

In addition, Haden has been an avid supporter of increasing quality outcomes during his tenure, which has been achieved through the hard-work and dedication of all Sentara Martha Jefferson team members and an investment in sophisticated technology.

During his time as president, Sentara Martha Jefferson has enhanced its complement of comprehensive cancer services, was designated as a Magnet® facility for excellence in nursing, opened the outpatient care centers at Pantops and Proffit Road, as well as a free-standing emergency department, recruited numerous specialists from the nation’s top medical institutions and achieved superior state and national patient satisfaction scores.

In addition, the Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation was created which has served as a wonderful partnership with the community. Most recently, Haden was instrumental in the successful construction of, and move to, the new Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital on Pantops Mountain and the successful merger with Sentara Healthcare.

“I consider myself lucky to have been able to work at Martha Jefferson Hospital,” said Haden. “I have had the good fortune to work with an outstanding group of physicians, employees, volunteers and unbelievably dedicated board members. It’s truly been fun. Martha Jefferson Hospital is a special place, and what I cherish the most about our hospital is the caring tradition culture. Thanks to the dedication of all those involved, I am confident the culture will continue through the years.”

As the healthcare landscape has changed over time, the strategic leadership of Haden has allowed Sentara Martha Jefferson to grow, and to continue to find better ways to provide care that has led to improved safety and quality outcomes for patients and their families.

“Jim is responsible for encouraging a wide spectrum of individuals to become involved with Martha Jefferson, which in turn has made it the fine institution it is today,” said Peter Brooks, chair of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Board of Directors. “His tireless dedication to improving the health of the community can be seen in the major accomplishments that have taken place, but also in the small things. We will be forever thankful for his selfless leadership.”

A formal search process is well underway for Haden’s successor. The next president is expected to be named later this fall.